Home – Cottage – Chalet

Category Archives: Cottage Chic

It’s the first long weekend of the summer and I’m just itching for it to arrive! This weekend our family as well as my sisters and their families will beat a path to the cottage. I have to say part of the fun for me is planning the menu and who’s bringing what.

I’ve been on the hunt to finish off some of the cottage projects that I started with my Mom in the spring so this weekend the SUV will be brimming with food and finds. I thought it would be fun to do a “I’m on the way to the cottage and in my trunk you’ll find” post :)

Long Weekend Haul

1. Us Cross girls are famous for our ability to consume copious amounts of cheese, no happy hour is complete without one. Local Balderson Cheese is a family favourite!

2. Green glass tea light holders from Bowering are going to look gorgeous on the deck, both during the day and lit at dinner.

3. I’m in love with my new Cobi style pillows from Dreamweaver Gifts in Westboro. The indoor/outdoor fabric means I can use them in the living room & on the sun porch…genius

5. It’s a long weekend and it starts with drinks on the deck, well actually every weekend kicks off in that manner! My, Mom, sisters and I head for the flavoured vodka. “Waiter: lemon vodka, cranberry juice, soda and a lemon wedge all around please” Cheers!

6. Winners has a huge selection of lanterns at amazing prices. I picked up 2 sizes

7. While at Winners I also found sumptuous Tommy Hilfiger towels that are going to look amazing on the dock. That chevron print is everywhere right now.

Dorm Bedroom

So I’m off to get a jump on packing. For more cottage inspiration checkout our feature in this months Ottawa at Home.

I’m a very visual person, a picture is a quick and easy way for me to explain my vision to a client. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest and I’ve built a pretty good collection of images that I can use as a reference point for my clients. I thought I’d start a new series highlighting some of the great people on Pinterest that inspire me.

A word to the wise, if you’re new to Pinterest; when you click on a profile of a Pinner you have the option to follow an individual board. You do not have to hit follow all at the top, this way you can pick and choose what interests you and you won’t be clogging your feed. Also watch for boards that have the multiple Pinners icon (3 little heads). Although some of these boards have great content they often have thousands of pins on them and sometimes aren’t relevant to the topic. I recommend that you click through the board to ensure that it’s not just the one image that caught your eye but there are other images that reflect your personal interest.

Marnie Fuchs Martin – A colour consultant in TX. This is the most comprehensive collection that I’ve come across. I love the way she has laid out all her boards by both style, room and colour.

Jennifer O’Brien – Profiles her City Farmhouse. She has a great collection of inspiring design boards and vintage ideas.

When I approach a new project I always take into consideration the location. This little house situated on a half acre of property with lovely views of the Gatineau Hills seemed like the perfect fit for a modern cottage feel.

Chelsea QC

When working with open living areas I find using a soft colour that can flow throughout, the best way to provide an open airy feeling. Benjamin Moore’s Iceberg provided a calm backdrop to the main living areas and BM’s Silver Marlin created a master bath with a spa like atmosphere.

Paint is definitely the quickest way to unify and brighten a space. The kitchen was given a new life by painting the existing maple cabinets a bright glossy white, it’s like teeth whitening it took years off it’s life! The biggest challenge is always to convince the husband in the house that painting wood is a good idea…I have no idea why men are so protective of wood, it’s like they milled it themselves and they are laying down in front of the bulldozer! Those are always tense moments but once I get a grudging acceptance the remarkable results usually win them over :)

Like this:

An oasis at home. Images via pinterst. For further details take a look at our Outdoor Spaces board

As the snow melts and the garden becomes visible many of us turn our thoughts to outside living. Gone are the days of folding chairs and plastic loungers, replaced with great fabrics & inside worthy comfort. That’s right we’ve taken outdoor decorating to a whole new level in our thirst to squeeze every moment out of summer :)

Does your decorating style change when you move outdoors? I find many of my clients are more open to colour and taking risks with patterns. Here are a few of my favourite new outdoor fabrics from Robert Allen & Sunbrella.

Southern Exposure

I love a sun porch that is full of a mix of eclectic colours, textures and market finds. Don’t you find that entertaining outside is so much more relaxed and spontaneous? No need to carry a conversation just the sounds of kids playing, birds chirping and ice melting in your margarita glass ;) So now’s the time to get out there and start planning (and shopping for) your outdoor room, it can be as simple as a sunny patch in the garden. Get inspired!

Today as the snow continues to fly I think about better days ahead…Long lazy days at the cottage with nothing to do but sit on the dock judging kids diving competitions. If you are a cottager you might be starting to think about renovations you want to start or furniture that you want to add. So in this inaugural post I dedicate it to inspiring the cottager in you. Whether you own one or just love the feeling that cottage style evokes. Cheers

I’d learn to knit just to make this. Via Cantos Ecantos

I love the hit of red in this otherwise white space. Designer unknown

A calming combination of colours that remind me of sea grass. Courtesy of BHG

The orange stools are just so delicious, I want to sit here with a strawberry daiquiri and shell peas.

Like this:

The Girl at the end of the Lane…

Hi I'm Jennifer Cross, Principle Designer at Juniper Lane. I'm crazy about summer and family days at the cottage. I'm a social media and marketing lover, entrepreneur, mother, Pinterest fanatic, wanna be marathon runner and guacamole connoisseur. I'm known for my passion for colour and my toss pillow obsession!